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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The prosperity of Texas depends upon highly educated |
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and skilled workers, and six nonprofit workforce development |
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organizations across the state have been greatly assisted in their |
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efforts by the Texas Innovative Adult Career Education (ACE) Grant |
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Program; and |
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WHEREAS, Established by the Texas Legislature in 2013, the |
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ACE grant program provides matching funds to regional partnerships |
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of community organizations, employers, and community colleges with |
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the goal of helping to break the link between poverty and |
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undereducation; participating workforce development groups include |
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Project QUEST in San Antonio, the Valley Initiative for Development |
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and Advancement (VIDA) in the Rio Grande Valley, Project ARRIBA in |
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El Paso, Capital IDEA of Central Texas, Skill QUEST in Dallas, and |
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Capital IDEA Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Nearly 16,000 previously low-income Texans have |
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embarked on new careers in health care, technology, and trades |
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through education supported by these workforce development |
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organizations; since 2014, thanks to ACE matching funds, almost |
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1,500 workers have started jobs in new industries at an average |
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hourly rate of $21.54; this semester alone, ACE is supporting half |
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the training for more than 1,200 Texans; and |
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WHEREAS, For every dollar invested, the six workforce |
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development groups return between $12.12 and $26.10 to the |
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community, taxpayers, and participants; moreover, the groups |
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contribute to the 60x30TX Higher Education Plan, working to ensure |
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that by 2030, at least 60 percent of Texans between the ages of 25 |
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and 34 will have a certificate or degree; currently in Central |
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Texas, the graduates of Capital IDEA send 70 percent of their |
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children to college; and |
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WHEREAS, By augmenting the resources available to the six |
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participating organizations, the ACE grant program has improved |
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outcomes in developmental education, graduation rates, continuing |
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attendance in postsecondary institutions, and placement in |
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high-skill careers, and the staff and volunteers of those |
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organizations may take great pride in helping the next generation |
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of Texans prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st |
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century; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Project QUEST, VIDA, Project ARRIBA, |
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Capital IDEA of Central Texas, Skill QUEST, and Capital IDEA |
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Houston for their commitment to strengthening the skills of Texas |
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workers and for their careful stewardship of the taxpayer dollars |
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entrusted to them by the Texas Innovative Adult Career Education |
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Grant Program; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for each organization as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |